Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

By the time these words will be read, Dr. Brent Vidrine should be retired as head of the Monroe City School District after being at the post for ten years. People will remember him in their own way, but he certainly will be remembered as someone who came aboard with high expectations to turn a flailing school district around. How he will be judged is not up to this reporter but rather by those who knew him best. Those who worked with him in the field of education up until the time he was unceremoniously released from his position as superintendent will no doubt have fond memories of him. But he will also be remembered for what might be called a scandal involving questionable financial matters related to his retirement package that was drawn up before an investigation took center stage. The public still doesn’t know all of the details of $257,000 in checks paid to Vidrine as part of his retirement package negotiated back in 2018 that somehow caught the attention of the school board and the state’s legislative auditor’s office. The two checks paid to Vidrine in the amounts of $209,410.20 in February 2021 and $48,164.02 in July 2021 were allegedly based on his work experience, according to Board President Bill Willson. Vidrine was under two investigations leading up to what might be considered a “surprise” announcement of Vidrine’s impending retirement because no details were released to the public, as all matters were discussed in executive session. In addition to being investigated by the legislative auditor’s office starting in August, the board hired Workplace Investigators of the South based out of Baton Rouge on October 6, which according to Willson, has completed its investigation. The decision by the board to reach a settlement with Vidrine was based on legal counsel’s recommendation, which might bring an end to further investigation of Vidrine. Though Vidrine will be retired(tentatively), the investigation by the legislative auditor’s office is not over and may not be finished until January 2024, which the board will have to address. In the meantime, the District will have co-superintendents to oversee the daily operations that did not have full board approval. It is not known how Sam Moore and Serena White currently hold the positions of Child Welfare and Attendance Director and Curriculum and Instruction Director respectively, will co-exist with both having equal(?) power, but what happens if there is a disagreement somewhere? There is a reason why there has always been one Indian chief and a VICE-PRESIDENT. Though the appointments of the interim co-superintendents are only for six months until a permanent superintendent is named, there is the potential for so much turmoil to occur even if both Moore and White have a good working relationship because there may come a time when they are not on the same page. If there is a 3-3 tie, as it’s been known to happen, someone has to make the final decision. If it ain’t broke, don’t try to “fix” it.